Utah Governor Signs Controversial Transgender Bathroom Bill into Law

The decision sparks backlash from the LGBTQ community, who feel betrayed by the governor's reversal on transgender issues.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed into law HB257, restricting transgender people from using bathrooms and locker rooms in state-owned buildings and public schools that don't align with their sex at birth.
The decision has been met with backlash from the LGBTQ community, who feel betrayed by the governor's about-face on transgender issues, especially after he vetoed a similar bill in 2021.
Opponents of the law argue that it compromises the safety, dignity, and basic human rights of transgender and nonbinary individuals, and could potentially harm their mental health.
Supporters of the law, including lead sponsor Rep. Kera Birkeland, argue that the restrictions are a necessary safety measure to protect women and women's spaces.
The law is the first anti-transgender bathroom bill to be signed this year and the 13th law in the country to limit transgender people's bathroom use.